Caryopteris plant named ‘Gold Crest’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caryopteris  plant named ‘Gold Crest’, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage that transitions to golden-colored foliage in spring and summer, and moderately vigorous, and mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Caryopteris hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Gold Crest’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris plant botanically known as Caryopteris hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Gold Crest’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cochranville, Pa. during November 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Caryopteris cultivars having increased cold hardiness and attractive foliage coloration that doesn't fade under high light intensity.

The new Caryopteris cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Caryopteris hybrid breeding selection coded X1503-4, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, medium grey-green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during June 2011 in a controlled environment in Cochranville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2011 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Gold Crest’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris plant:

-   -   1. Medium violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage that transitions to         golden-colored foliage in spring and summer;     -   3. Moderately vigorous, and mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a golden-colored foliage in the spring and summer, more branches per plant, and increased cold tolerance.

Of the many commercially available Caryopteris cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Worcester Gold’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Worcester Gold’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a more mounded habit than         plants of ‘Worcester Gold’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have wider leaves than plants of         ‘Worcester Gold’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Gold Crest’. The plants were approximately six months old and grown in 2-gallon containers for approximately four months in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Gold Crest’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Gold Crest’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately six-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. After approximately 10 weeks rooted plants were transplanted into 2-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were then transferred to an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago, Ill. and grown for approximately four months. Plants were given one pinch at approximately two weeks before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21.1° C. to 23.9° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15.6° C. to 18.3° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Caryopteris hybrid ‘Gold Crest’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Caryopteris hybrid breeding             selection coded X1503-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42             days.         -   Root description.—Medium to fine.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Perennial, mounded.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6a (−10° F. to −5° F./−23.3° C. to             −20.6° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 58.0 cm. Width: Approximately 110.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6 with approximately 18 lateral branches per             each main branch.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Length: Approximately 62.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0             mm to 3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately             2.5 cm. Texture: Tomentose. Color of young stems: 145C.             Color of mature stems: 187A to 187B, becomes woody 199A with             age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: Strong, lavender-like. Form:             Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Quantity per lateral branch: Approximately 24.             Aspect: Acute angel to stem. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Margin:             Widely serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             5.2 cm. Width of mature leaf: 2.5 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Puberulent giving a velvet-like feel. Texture of             lower surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Color of upper             surface of young and mature foliage: 137B with venation of             146D, transitions in spring and summer to 153D with 144A and             venation of 146D. Color of lower surface of young and mature             foliage: 147C with venation of 145C to 146D, transitions in             spring and summer to 194C with venation of 4D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 to 4.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             145C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Gold Crest’ is a long-day obligate, freely             flowering under outdoor growing conditions, blooming from             August to October.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal and axillary dichasial             cymes, self-cleaning. Aspect: Upward and outward. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 4 to 8 cymes per lateral branch.             Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 3 to 8. Height: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Fragrance: Slight,             lavender-like.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Tomentose. Color: 145C tinted with 187A.         -   Bud.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 12 to 16.             Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color:             93C.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, upper lip having three lobes and             lower lip having two elongated lobes, base fused into a             tube. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Depth: Approximately             8.0 mm.         -   Upper lip.—Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.             Length from throat: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Tomentose. Color             of upper (inner) surface when first and fully open: 93B.             Color of lower (outer) surface when first and fully open:             93C.         -   Lower lip.—Shape: Obovate, cupped. Margin: Fringed. Apex:             Obtuse. Length from throat: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Texture of upper             (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Tomentose in a central longitudinal strip. Color of upper             (inner) surface when first and fully open: 93B. Color of             lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: 93C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces: 93D with base             of NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 5, fused at base.             Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of             inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface:             Tomentose. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146C, outer             surface appears lighter due to pubescence.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             peduncle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Tomentose. Color: 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4. Stamen             length: Approximately 4.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Filament color: 93C.             Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 93A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Closest to 11A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per floret.             Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid.             Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 92B. Style             length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: 92B. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 146C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Caryopteris has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Caryopteris plant named ‘Gold Crest’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 